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Fort Robinson State Park

Year Planted: 2000Trees Planted: 3,000Location: Nebraska

During July 1989, a wildfire burned 90,000 acres of state, federal and private lands in Nebraska, including Fort Robinson State Park. Since 1990 approximately 340,000 pondersoa pine seedlings have been planted mostly by Boy Scouts on the more accessible areas. However, a different approach was taken by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for the roughest and least accessible terrain of the Fort Robinson Burn. Approximately 600 acres were aerially seeded by helicopter with locally collected ponderosa pine seed in March 2000. An experienced commercial pilot utilizing the Global Positioning System conducted the aerial seeding. Tree planting on this site was used to speed recovery of the burned areas. Reforestation of this area should reduce ash and sediment runoff and restore habitat for wildlife.